Toy mail car



Oct. 28, 1941. J KUNGEBiEL 2,260,460 v TOY MAIL CAR Filed Sept. 16, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS WITNESS Get. 28, 1941.

R. J. KLINGEBIEL. 2,260,460

TOY MAIL CAR I Filed Sept. 16, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zfjohani M217 ingebjel I INVENTOR ATTORNEYS WITNESS Oct. 28, 19 1. 'R. J. KLINGEBIEL 2,260,460

TOY MAIL CAR Filed Sept. 16, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 wayzm ea ATTOR N EYS wrm :ss

Oct. 28, 1941.

R. J. KLINGEBIEL TOY MAIL CAR Filed Sept. 16, 1940 4'Sheets-Sheet 4 lifiohard c/Tli'l tn ge b zi e Patented Oct. 28, 1941 TOY MAIL CAR Richard J. KlingebieL'Ashton, 111., assignor of one-fourth to Gordon Brooklyn, Ill.

Edwin Lovett, West Application September 16, 1940, Serial No. 357,047

8 Claims.

My invention relates to amusement devices, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved mail catching and delivering device particularly adapted for incorporation in toy trains.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a car embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the car and a top plan view of the mail catching and delivering device in its normal position inside the car;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating the invention adjusted for picking up a mail bag;

Figure 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a view taken along the line 56 of Figure 2;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a supporting bracket;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a sliding bracket which moves the mail bag to positions inside and outside the car;

Figure 9 is a View taken along the line 99 of Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a perspective View of a latch. element; I

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the car door;

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the track with provisions made for actuating an electrically operated mail catching and delivering device in contradistinction to the meactuated mail catching and delivering device in contradistinction to the mechanical device illustrated in Figures 1 through 11 and 13 through 16;

Figure 18 is a View taken along the line |8-|3 'of Figure 17; and

horizontal plane.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary detail view of one of the switches in an open position.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, the car l0 of Fig. 1 may be conventional with respect to size. and general contour in conformity with conventional toy train cars. One side of the car is provided with a door opening normally closed by a sliding door l2, which door is providedv with a knob 3 to facilitate manual opening thereof. A slot 4 communicates with the door opening H to provide accommodation for the knob l3 as the door is moved to a full openposition for uncovering the opening Fig. 11 illustrates the door l2, which door is provided with an extension|5 which covers the slot l4 in the closed position of the door. To the inner face of the door I2 is riveted a strap l6 having a finger I1 for connection with one end of a tension spring l8 having its other end connected with a lug |9 welded to an inverted U -shaped trough or track 20 which slidably receives the upper edge margin of the door l2, see Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 9. Trough 20 is welded to two upright straps 2| and 22- having their lower ends welded to a plate 23 lying on the car floor 24 and fixedly secured thereto by two screws 25. Strap 2| lies in the plane of the door I2 and constitutes a bumper therefor when the door is snapped closed by the spring l8. Diagonal braces 26 and 21 are respectively welded to the straps 2| and 22 and the plate 23 for reinforcing the straps. The lower edge of the door |2 is slidably guided by a U-shaped trough or track 28 having its ends welded to the straps 2| and 22.

Upon the plate 23 is mounted an L-shaped bracket 29 having its flange 30 welded to the plate and its flange 3| positioned upright at right angles to the floor 24 and to the longitudinal axis of the car, with both flanges extending the fullwidth of the floor 24. An inverted trough or track 32 is fashioned along the upper margin 01 the flange 3|, see Figs. 6 and '7, for the reception of the upper marginal edge of a guide plate 33 riveted to a plate 34 having its lower marginal edge positioned between the flange 3| and the bight of a channel 35 welded to the flange 30. Trough or track 32 and the channel 35 hold the plate 33 snugly against the flange 3|, but the plate is slidably guided for movement toward and away from the door I2. Plate 34 is provided with a flange 36 which rides on the upper flange of the channel 35, and the plate is provided with a flange 31 which lies in a To the flange 3| is welded a finger 38 for connection with one end of a tension spring 39 having its other end attached to a finger 40 bent out of the plane of the plate 33. Plates 33 and 34 and the flange 31 constitute a carriage 4|, as best illustrated in Fig. 8, for the mail bag catcher, and the spring 39 normally holds the carriage'in abutting engagement with the finger 38. Plates 33 and 34 are recessed at 42 for the reception of the finger 38 to permit the recessed ends of the plates to be positioned closely to the adjacent side wall of the car l0.

Upon the plate 23 is mounted an the plate, see Figs. 6 and 9. bell crank 45 the edge 69 of the recess is provided with a notch 19 for the reception of the pin 63 whenthe which camming pivots the trip latch 59 in a me U-shaped support 43 having flanges 44 riveted to is pivotally mounted at 46 on the support 43,

and the arm 41 of the belt-crank is provided clockwise direction from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, the trip latch 59 extends transversely of the recess 66 and in Fig. 2

the triplatch is positioned substantially at right angles to the axis of movement of the carriage 1 4i. While the spring 64 urges the trip latch 59 in with a slot 48 for the reception of a pin 49 fixedly secured to the flange 3'! of the carriage 4L Movementis imparted to the carriage 4!. through pivotal actionflof the. bell crank 45. Movement of the bell crank '45 in a counterclockwise direction when viewing Figs. 2 and 3 shifts the carriage M from its normal position of Fig. 2 to the bag catching position of Fig. .3,

and the carriage is retur'nedto itsnormal positionthrough theinfluence of' the spring 39. Projecting inwardly of the door. I2 is a lug 5Q arrangedin the path ofthe arm 5| of the bell crank so thatthe bell. crank is.pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction through movement ofthe door l2 to an open position. The mail bag catcher 52 is pivotally-connected at 53 with: theplate 31, and the catcher lies on I the upper face of the plate 3'Ii and, is provided with an arm 54 which is offset to .extend horizontally across the trough or track 32 and un derneath the bight 55 of the U-shaped support 43. summated through the mediumof a pin 56 fixed to the arm 54 and projecting betweentwo spring elements 51 and 58 fixedly securedto the plate 3|, best illustrated in Figs. 2 and '7. Springs 51 and 58 are sufiiciently stiff to provide the necessary resistance for controlling the pivotal movement of the catcher 52 as the catcher is moved from either position of Figs. 2 and 3 to the other position illustrated therein. 1 I

Door opening II is sufiiciently large to permit the catcher 52 to swing freely therethrough, and the catcher is moved from the positionof Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3 by merely grasping the knob l3 and shoving the door openas far as it will go. While the door is biased to a closed position by the spring I8 and the carriage toits normal position of Fig. 2 by the spring 39, the catcher 52 is latched in its catching position of Fig. 3 by a trip .latch '59 and the door, after being moved'until Pivotal movement of the catcher 52 is con-; v

the shank 60 of the knob [3 reaches the limits I of the slot I4, returns a short distance in thc,

direction of its normal closing position and is restrained from furthermovement through en,- gagement with the plate 33.

a clockwise direction, the cam edge'll provides positive means for camming the pin 63 into the notch 19. V displacement or positioning of the trip latch beyond predetermined limits. Figs. earn 5 illus-i trate the hook 61 as being U-shaped in cross section when viewed from the end with theplate 3i aligning withthe space -I2 to be receivable therein in the closed position of the catcher,

as in Fig. 2. Referring to Figs. 5 and 10, trip latch 59 has an offset 13 adapted to extend underneath the wall 14 of the hook 61. Accordingly, trip latchv 59 completely spans the recess 66 and the offset 13 permits the trip latch to be made of sufiicient lengthto extend underneath the lower face of the catcher 52 in all positions of the trip latch.

In operation, the catcher 52 is effectively latched in the position of Fig. 3 through positioning of the pin 63 in. the notch 10. Whenso positioned, the spring 39 exerts a pull on the carriage 4! but the pin 63 latches the catcher 52 against pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot 53, and the pin 56 exerts pressure on the spring 58, but a wedge-like filler [5 lies adjacent the spring near its point of connection with the plate 3! so as to prevent flexing of the spring at this point. Thus the carriage 4| is restrained from inward movement. As the-mail bag strikes the trip latch 59, the trip latch is pivoted; in a counter-clockwise direction for moving the pin 63 out of the notch 19 which frees the oatcher52 to permit pivotal movement thereof. Spring 39 then pulls the carriage 4| inwardly and the pin 56 im-' parts pivotal motion to the catcher 52 as the pin advances along the springs 51 and 58. With the carriage 4i positioned in accordance with Fig. 2, the pin 56 has pivoted the catcher 52 to the position of Fig. 2 so that the mail bag will be latched in the hook 61. Plate 31 is recessed at '56, which recess coactswith the hook 61 to provide an opening for receiving the mail bag. Trip latch 59 will yield in a counter-clockwise direction through the pressure of the mail bag thereon so as to provide ample accommodation Trip latch 59 is pivotally connected at 6] H underneath the plate 31, which plate is provided with a slot 62 curved concentrically about the axis; of the pivot 6| for the reception of a pin 63 fixed to the trip latch 59. Trip latch 59 is urged gently in a clockwise direction through the medium of a spring wire 64 having one end fixedly connected at 65 with the plate 31.. In Figs. 2 and 3,. the catcher 52 is provided with'a recess/66 located to provide a hook, 61. Thewall 68 0f the recess is curved to provide a widemouth for entrance of the mail bag into the recess 66, and

for the mail bag between the hook and the edge of the plate 31.

Since the hook 61 retains a holding connection with the mail bag when the carriage is positioned according to Fig. 2, movement of the carriage to the position of Fig. 3 will-automatically position the mail bag exteriorly of the car where it is ao-' cessible for replacement on its supporting stand located along the track. Mere opening of the door I! as far as it will go conditions the catcher equipment according to Fig. 3, at which time the catcher equipment is effectively latched in its mail catching position and automatically returns Spring 64 also prevents accidental to the position of Fig. 2 through more engagement of the mail bag with the trip latch 59.

In Figs. 13 and 15, I illustrate a stand 11 for supporting the mail bag 18 having a neck 19 which engages the trip latch 59. Stand 11 includes arms 80 and 8| each provided with a split eye 82 for releasable connection with an eye 83 attached to the end of the mail bag. Fig.'14 illustrates one of the split eyes 82, which eye is in the nature of a spring wire bent to form a loop 84 and diverging ends '85 meeting at the point 86 to provide a closed loop so as to effectively retain the associated eye 83, which eye may be easily pressed into the loop 84 by forcing the eye between the diverging ends 85. The two split eyes 82 are identical in construction and function to provide a releasable mount for the mail bag 18 as it is engaged by the catcher 52.

Stand 11 is secured to a base plate 81 pivoted at 88 to a supporting structure 89, and the base plate 81 is provided with a handle 90 to facilitate rotation of the stand so that the mail bag 18 may be precisely positioned with respect to its spacing from the car to secure proper alignment with the catcher 52. Supporting structure 89 may extend underneath the track 9I and be secured to the rails thereof.

In Figs. 1'7, 18 and 19, I illustrate a different form of catcher mechanism, which form is electrically operated. Upon the car floor 92 is secured an inverted U-shaped support 93 having flanges 94 and 95 secured to the floor by screws 96, the flange 94 being bent toprovide an upstanding plate 91. A carriage 98 provides a mount for a catcher 99, which is identical with the catcher 52, and includes a plate I lying adjacent the plate 91 and having its upper marginal edge slidably guided by a U-shaped track IN. The lower marginal edge of the plate I00 is slidably guided between the plate 91 and an angle I02 secured to the flange 94 by some of the screws 96, U-shaped upper and lower tracks I03 and I04, respectively, are provided for. slidably guiding the door I05, and the tracks are welded to upright straps I06 which may be welded to the adjacent side of the car I01. Tracks I03 and I04 are identical with the tracks 20 and 28 of Fig. 5.

A tension spring I 08 has one end connected with a lug I09 welded to the door I and its opposite end connected with a lug I I0 welded to the track I03 for biasing the door I05 to a closed position, with the door aligning with the' right-hand strap I06 of Fig. 18 to bump thereagainst when moved to a closed position. The

door opening III corresponds to the door open-- ing II of Fig. 1 with the exception that it is devoid of a slot I4.

To the inner face of the door I05 is riveted a strap II2 provided with a pin I I3 extending loosely through a slot H4 in a bar II5 pivotally connected at II6 with a support II1 riveted to the floor 92. Closely adjacent the bar H5 is located a solenoid II8 fixedly attached to the floor 92 by a bracket II9 bolted to the floor. The core I20 of the solenoid is provided with an eye I2I for the reception of a pin I22 fixed to the bar I I5. Eye I2! is so fashioned as to permit the necessary relative movement of the pin I22 as the lever is oscillated to either of its extreme dotted or full line positions of Fig. 18. Movement of the core I20 imparts sliding motion to the door I05. Energization of the solenoid causes a relative inward movement of the core I20 which moves the door I05 to its full open position of Fig. 18 against the tension of the spring I08. Deenerfrom the contact I42.

gization of the solenoid permits the spring I08 to move the door toits closed position.

Carriage 98 includes a plate I23 to which the catcher 99 is pivoted,.as at I24, and the catcher includes an arm I25 provided with a pin I26 for coaction with spring members I21 and I28. Arm I25, pin I26 and the springs I21 and I28 respectively correspondto the arm 54, thepin 56 and the springs 51 and 58. Actuation of the carriage 98, particularly to the catching position of Fig. 17, is accomplished through the medium of a bell crank I29 pivotally connected at I30 with the support'93 and oscillated through the medium of a solenoid I3I having its core I32 pivotally connected with the arm I33 of the bell crank. Solenoid I3I is fixedly secured to the floor 92 by a bracket I34 bolted thereto. To the plate I23 is secured a pin I35 which extends loosely through a slot I36 in the arm I31 of the bell crank. Energization of the solenoid I3I imparts clockwise rotation to the bell crank I29, which moves the carriage 98 and the catcher 99 from their positions inside the care to the catcher position of Fig. 17. Carriage 98 is biased to its normal position inside the car by a tension spring I38 which has one end attached to the carriage and its other end attached to an arm I39 attached to the plate Thus deenergization of the solenoid I3I permits the carriage 98 to be moved inside the car by the spring I 38.

Adjacent the solenoid H8 is located a switch I40, which switch includes a conductor I4I having a contact I42 and a flexible conductor I43 provided with a contact I44 normally spaced Conductors MI and I43 are insulated apart and fixedly secured to the floor 92 by a supporting bracket I45 also insulated from the conductors. Fig. 17 illustrates the pin I22 as beingof such length as to be engageable with the flexible conductor I43 to bring its contact I 44 into electrical engagement with the contact I42 when the door I05 is moved to its full open position through the medium of the solenoid H8. "A strip of insulating material I46 is secured to the conductor I 43 and arranged to be engaged by the pin I22.

A lead-in wire I41 has one end connected with the conductor I4I and extends through an opening I48 in the floor 92 for connection with a sleeve I49 which supports a contact shoe I50, with the sleeve I49 secured to an insulating mount I5I supported on the car truck indicated generally at I52. Conta'ct'shoe I50 is spring pressed and. slidably'engages a fourth rail I53. A wire I54 is lugged to the wire I41 and leads to the solenoid I I8, the latter being grounded at I55. One end of a wire I56 is connected with the conductor I43 and leads to the solenoid I3I, the latter being grounded at I51.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatical illustration of the track 9I showing the train controller transformer I58 and a catcher transformer I59. The primary winding I60 is connected with the line wires I6I and the secondary winding I62 is connected with a wire I63 connected with the outer or ground rail-I64. A wire I65 is connected with the third rail I66 and with a wiper element I61 arranged for selective engagement with contacts I68. A wire I69 connects the wire I63 with the secondary winding I10 of the transformer I59, the primary winding H! of which is connected with the line wires I 12. Secondary winding I10 is also connected with a wire I13 electrically connected with the fourth rail I 53 arranged to be electrically engaged by the contact shoe I50. Interposed in the wire'I13 is a'manually actuated switch I14.

Fourth rail I53i's energized through closing of the switch I14. As' the mail car passes over the fourth" rail I53, the switch I14 isclosed and 5 current is delivered to the solenoid IIB through engagement of the contact shoe I50 with the fourthrail. The door 7 I 05 is then opened through movement of the core I20. Upon closing of the switch I40 through engagement of the contacts I42 and IE4, current is delivered to the solenoid 'I3I, the energization of which attracts the core I32 and shifts the carriage 98 to the position'of Fig. 1'1, which locates the catcher 99in the bag catching position'of that figure. The switch I14 is held closed just sufficiently long to bring the catcher 99 to its mail bag pick-up position. I; In Fig. 17, the catcher 99'is provided with a trip'latch I15 which is identical with the trip latch 59, and a spring wire I16 is also provided for engagement with the pin I11. Wire I16 has one end fixedly connected at I18 with the plate I23. With the exception of the electrical actua tion of the mechanism for manipulating the carriage 98, the catcher 99. functions in the same manner as the catcher 52.

In the manually set catcher form, the mail bag is manually'removed from the catcher. 'In the electrically actuate'dform, the catcher is=pro- ,jected to a catchingposition with such speed as to cause the trip latch I15 to kick the mail bag in the catcher free 'so that it may drop clear thereof. Thus the catcher will be conditioned for picking up the second mail bag already placed in position on the stand. Thus it is preferable to employ two mail bags in connection with the electrically actuated for-m.

Having thus described certain embodiments of my invention in detail, it is, of course, understood that I do' not desire to limit the scope thereof to the exact details set forth exceptinsofar as those details may be defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mail car, a mailbag catcher comprising a track,a carriage movable on said track, a mail bag catcher means pivotally mounted on said carriage, a guide, a pivot on said catcher means slidably and pivotally engaging said guide, said guide being angularly positioned with respect to said track to impart pivotal motion to said catcher means when the carriage is moved along said track to place the catcher means in a mail bag catching position in one position of said carriage and in a bag retaining position in the normal position of the carriage, said catcher meanshavsaid guide to restrain the catcher means from pivotal movement when the latter is in a mail bag catching position and for latching the carriage against movement by said resilient means,-

said trip latch spanning said recess and pivoted to a catcher releasing position when engaged by amail bag. l

2. Ina mail car, a mail bag catcher comprising a track, a carriage movable on said track, a

mail bag catcher means pivotally mounted on said carriage, a guide, a pivot on said catcher means slidably and pivotally engaging said guide, said guide being angularly positioned with respect to said track to impart pivotal motion to s'aid catcher means when the carriage is moved along said track to place the catcher means in a mail bag catching position in one position of said carriage and in a bag retaining position in the normal position of the carriage, said catcher means having a mail bag receiving recess and said carriage having a part arranged to close said recess when said carriage and the catcher means are in their normal positions, resilient means biasing said carriage to its normal position, a trip latch pivotally connected with said carriage and-acting on said catcher means and coacting with said guide to restrain the catcher means from pivotal movement when the latter is in a mail bag catching position and for latching the carriage against movement by said resilient means, said trip latch spanning said recess and pivoted to a catcher releasing position when engaged by a mail bag, said 'car having a door opening and a door for normally closing the opening, and an operating connection between said door and said carriage for moving the latter to place the catcher means in a bag catching position through opening of the door.

3. In a mail car, a mail bag catcher com-prising a track, a carriage movable on said track, a mail bag catcher means pivotally mounted on said carriage, a guide, a pivot on said catcher means'slidably and pivotally engaging said guide, said guide being angularly positioned with respect to said track to impart pivotal motion to said catcher means when the carriage is moved along said track to place the catcher means in a mail bag catching position in one position of said carriage and in a bag retaining position in the normal positionof the carriage, said catcher means having a mail bag receiving recess and saidcarriage having a partarranged to close said recess when said carriage and the catcher means are in their normal positions, resilient means biasing said carriage to its normal position, atrip latch pivotally connected with said carriage and acting on said catcher means and coacting with said guide to restrain the catcher means from pivotal movement when the latter is in a mail bag catching position and for latching the carriage against movement by said resilient means, said trip latch spanning said recess and pivoted -to a catcher releasing position when engaged by a mail bag, said car having a door .opening and a doorfor normally closing'the projecting partly through said opening when the catcher means is in a bag catching position, and resilient means biasing the door to its closed position, said door engaging said carriage to restrain closing. of the door when the catcher means is in a bag catching position but being ,moved clear. of the door when in its normal position to permit closing of the door.

4. In a mailv car, a mail bag catcher comprising a track, a carriage movable on said track, a mail bag catcher means pivotally mounted on said carriage, a guide, a pivot on said catcher means slidably and pivotally engaging said guide, said. guide being angularly positioned with respect to said trackto impart pivotal motion to said catcher means when thecarriage is moved .along said track to place the catcher means in .a mail bag catching position in one position of said carriage and in a bag retaining position in the normal position of the carriage, said catcher means having a mail bag receiving recess and coacting with said guide to restrain the catcher I means from pivotal movement when the latter is in a mail bag catching position and for latching the carriage against movement by said resilient means, said trip latch spanning said recess and pivoted to a catcher releasing position when engaged by a mail bag, an electric circuit including a control switch, and electrically energized means connected in said circuit and adapted for energization by said circuit and operatively connected with said carriage for moving the latter against the tension of said resilient means to position the catcher means in its bag catching position 5. In a mail car, a mail bag catcher comprising a track, a carriage movable on said track, a mail bag catcher means pivotally mounted on said carriage, a guide, a pivot on said catcher means slidably and pivotally engaging said guide, said guide being angularly positioned with respect to said track to impart pivotal motion to said catcher means when the carriage is moved along said track to place the catcher means in a mail bag catching position in one position of said carriage and in a bag retaining position in the normal position of the carriage, said catcher means having a mail bag receiving recess and said carriage having a part arranged to close said recess when said carriage and the catcher means are in their normal positions, resilient means biasing said carriage to its normal position, a trip latch pivotally connected with said carriage and acting on said catcher means and coacting with said guide to restrain the catcher means from pivotal movement when the latter is in a mail bag catching position and for latching the carriage against movement by said resilient means, said trip latch spanning said recess and pivoted to a catcher releasing position when engaged by a mail bag, an electric circuit including a control switch, electrically energized means connected in said circuit and adapted for energization by said circuit and operatively connected with said carriage for moving the latter against the tension of said resilient means to position the catcher means in its bag catching position, said car having a door and said catcher means passing through said door, and electrically energized means operatively associated with said circuit and operatively connected with said door to open the latter before said first-mentioned electrically energized means is energized.

6. In a mail car, a mail bag catcher comprising a track, a carriage movable on said track, a mail bag catcher means pivotally mounted on said carriage, a guide, a pivot on said catcher means slidably and pivotally engaging said guide,- said guide being angularly positioned with respect to said track to impart pivotal motion to said catcher means when the carriage is moved along said track to place the catcher means in a mail bag catching position in one position of said carriage and in a bag retaining position in the normal position of the carriage, said catcher means having a mail bag receiving recess and said carriage having a part arranged to close said recess when said carriage and the catcher means are in their 'normal positions, resilient means biasing said carriage to its normal position, a trip latch pivotally connected with said carriage and acting on said catcher means and coacting with said guide to restrain the catcher means from pivotal movement when the latter is in a mail bag catching position and for latch ing th'e carriage against movement by said resilient means, said trip latch spanning said reess and pivoted to a catcher releasing position when engaged by a mailbag, an electric circuit including 'a' control switch, electrically energized mans connected in said circuit and adapted for ,energization by said circuit and operatively conjne'cted'withsaid carriage for moving the latter against the tension of said resilient means to position the catcher means in its bag catching position, said car having a door and said catcher means passing through said door, electrically energized means operatively associated with said circuit and operatively connected with said door to open the latter before said first-mentioned electrically energized means is energized, resilient means biasing said door to a closed position, said carriage projecting partly through said door opening in the bag catching position of said catcher means, and said door engaging said carriage to be restrained from closing until the carriage and the catcher means are moved inside the car.

'7. In a mail car, a mail bag catcher comprising a track, a carriage movable on said track, a mail bag catcher means pivotally mounted on said carriage, a guide, a pivot on said catcher means slidably and pivotally engaging said guide, said guide being angularly positioned with respect to said track to impart pivotal motion to said catcher means when the carriage is moved along said track to place the catcher means in a mail bag catching position in one position of said carriage and in a bag retaining position in the normal position of the carriage, said catcher means having a mail bag receiving recess and said carriage having a part arranged to close said recess when said carriage and. the catcher means are in their normal positions, resilient means biasing said carriage to its normal position, a trip latch pivotally connected with said carriage and acting on said catcher means and coacting with said guide to restrain the catcher means from pivotal movement when the latter is in a mail bag catching position and for latching the carriage against movement by said resilient means, said trip latch spanning said recess and pivoted to a catcher releasing position when engaged by a mail bag, said car having a sliding door and said carriage and catcher means moving partly through the door opening when said catcher means is moved to a bag catching position, an electric circuit, electrically energized means operatively con- 8. In a mail car, a mail bag catcher comprising a track, a carriage movable on said track, a

mail bag catcher means pivotally mounted on said catcher means when the carriage is moved along said track to place the catcher means in a mail bag catching position in one position of said car-' riage'and in a bag retaining position in the normal position of the carriage, said catcher means having a mail bag receiving recess and said car riage having a part arranged to close said recess in their normal positions, resilient means biasing said carriage to its normal position, a trip latch pivotallyconnected with said carriage and acting 1 when said carriage and the catcher means are 7 on said catcher means and coacting with said guide to restrain the catcher means from pivotal movement when the latter is in a mail bag catching. position and for latching the carriage against movement by said resilient means, said trip latch spanning said recess and pivoted to a catcher releasing position when engaged by a mailbag, said car having a ,door opening, a spring biased door normally closing said opening, a manual grip secured to said door to facilitate opening thereof against the tension of the spring, and an operating connection between the door and said car.- riage for moving the latter to position the catcher means in a bag catching position when said door is movedto an open position.

RICHARD J. KLINGEBIEL. 

